Atomizer



Aug. 17, 1954 w. P. CARR 2,686,696

ATOMIZER Filed Jan. 4, 1950 fume in small, economical units.

Patented Aug. 17, 1954 ATOMIZER William P. Carr, Perrysburg, Ohio, assignor to pany, Toledo, Ohio, a cor- The De Vilbiss Com poration of Ohio Application January 4, 1950, Serial No. 136,825

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to atomizers of the hand supported type for use in the spray application of liquids such as medicine and perfume.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of an atomizer with means for insertion through a pierceable wall of a sealed liquid container for the withdrawal and spraying of liquid therefrom.

A supplemental object is the provision of an atomizer having single-dosage one-time containers for the liquid to be sprayed.

These and other objects of the invention are attained through the construction of an atomizer having a pointed end on its liquid inlet tube and forming sealed containers with a pierceable wall. The pointed inlet tube may be used to pierce the wall as well as for insertion within the container for the aspiration and atomization of the liquid.

Capsules of a wall composition soft enough for piercing without deformation, may be utilized.

The capsules may be prepared and filled by a pharmaceutical concern or other manufacturer such as a perfume maker; or be filled by druggists or others in the retail business, on medical or individual prescription. In the latter case two-part cylindrical capsules having a telescopic joint would likely be utilized.

The invention is advantageous for material which deteriorates on exposure to light or air as it is kept in its original container until used. Should the medicine or other liquid be expensive or dangerous beyond a certain dosage, the exact amount required may be provided in the pierce able capsule of this invention. The atomizer is compact, and the liquid sealed, which makes it convenient for travelers use and easy to store in a medicine cabinet.

No opening, pouring from and closing of a supply bottle is necessary.

The small capsule may be made pellet size which would permit the sale of expensive per- For carrying in a purse the atomizer and a few small capsules would take a minimum amount of space.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an atomizer embodying one form of my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 4 is a vertical section of a second form of my invention and,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the atomizer of Figure 4 with a nebulizer outlet tube applied to it.

Referring in detail to the drawings the atomizer illustrated in the first three views has a body I and a semi-spherical rubber air compression bulb 2. From the interior of the latter an air passage 3 extends through the body to the spray discharge nozzle 4. A cavity 5 is provided in the upwardly extending cylindrical boss 6 for receiving a small pellet capsule 1. The lower side of the capsule! is pierced by the pointed end of tube 8 extending upwardly from the bottom of the cavity 5. The tube 8 communicates with the nozzle 4 through a passage 9. On compression of the bulb 2, air travelling through passage 3 and out the nozzle 4 aspirates liquid from the capsule l to the nozzle and discharges it in spray form in the conventional manner. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is particularly adapted for round capsules of small capacity for holding a single dosage quantity of perfume or of a light dosage medicinal preparation. The resilient nature of the body of the capsule maintains a satisfactory seal around the tube so no trouble from leakage occurs. When the capsule is emptied by the spray operation it is easily removed by prying with a thumb or finger nail and is discarded. The atomizer is then ready to be returned to a purse or pocket. The point of the tube 8 is guarded by the walls of the cavity 5 so it may not be easily injured and will not catch in fabric or prick the user.

The atomizer illustrated in Figure 4 is designed more for home utility than for carrying. It has an air bulb Ill shaped to support the atomizer. The pointed liquid tube H is long enough to receive a capsule I2 of greater capacity. This is retained on the tube I i through the resiliency of the capsule composition at the point the capsule is pierced. Air from the bulb Ill passes up through the passage l3 in the atomizer body I4 and its discharge past the outlet end of the liquid nozzle stem I 5 aspirates the liquid from the capsule i2.

In Figure 5 the atomizer of Figure 4 is shown with a nebulizer tubular chamber I6 fastened to the atomizer by means of the threads at the top of the body [4. This invention is thus adapted for incorporation in a nebulizer.

For use with this invention it is desirable to have capsules composed of a material that is easily pierced and is resilient. Many of the plastic capsules in which vitamins and various medicinal preparations are furnished have the desired characteristics.

While it is believed that the structures and methods herein presented are the preferred means for practicing this invention, its benefits may be derived from modified devices and procedures. For instance, instead of puncturing the container with the liquid tube some other instrument may be used for this purpose and the tube inserted through the preformed port. In such a case the end of the tube need not have such a sharp edge or point. The puncturing element could be a solid point integral with the atomizer and guarded with an annular wall as is the end of the tube of the atomizer of Figure 2.

The term pointed as employed in the specification and claims in reference to the penetrat ing end of the liquid tube is, of course, to be interpreted sufiiciently broadly to include any sharp edged forms, such as the cutting end of a narrow chisel, which would serve to pierce or cut through the wall of a capsule or a thin rubber bottle cover. 7

What I claim is:

1. In an atomizer of the hand supported air atomizing type, a discharge nozzle, an air compression bulb connected to said nozzle, a vertically directed needle-like liquid tube for conveying material to be sprayed to the nozzle, a pointed inlet end on the upper end of the liquid tube, and means forming an upwardly facing bowl-like cavity with the liquid tube in fixed position at the center of the cavity, said cavity and tube constructed to receive and pierce a soft walled capsule inserted into the cavity.

2. In an atomizer of the hand supported air atomizing type, comprising a base, a discharge nozzle supported on said base, an air compression bulb connected to said nozzle, an upwardly facing bowl-like guard on said base, and a slender, hollow needle-like aspirating tube for conveying fiuid to be sprayed to the nozzle, said tube being substantially centrally aflixed in said guard and extending upwardly therein, the upper end of said tube being pointed for piercing a soft-walled capsule inserted in said bowl-like guard.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain 1912 

